Air valve



F. H. TWEED Jan. 16, 1934.

AIR VALVE Filed Aug. l, 1929 :NMEA: y

Patented Jan. 16, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to air valves and has for its object to provide a new and improved device of this description.

The invention has a further object to provide an air valve arranged to permit the escape of the air from radiators or heating systems and to also hold a vacuum therein when the steam goes down.

The invention has as a further object to provide an air valve which prevents the stopping up of the air escape opening.

The invention has further objects which are more particularly pointed out in the accompanying specification.

Referring now to the drawing, Figure 1 is a view showing one form of air valve embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the air valve shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the upper end of the air valve when the air escape is closed;

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 when the air escape is open.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, the air valve comprises a casing 1 having an inlet 2 by means of which it is connected to the device with which it is used, such as the radiator section 3. A water discharge pipe 4 extends into the casing and into the radiator section, said pipe being provided with one or more openings 5 at its upper end for the admission of water, the arrangement being such that water can flow out of the casing while air or steam is flowing in. Within the casing is a hollow receptacle 6 which acts both as afloat and as a container for an expansible iluid. The lower end of the receptacle rests on a support 7. The upper end of the receptacle is provided with a valve member 8 which extends into an outlet piece 9. The valve member has a face 10 which engages the opposed seat on the outlet piece 9. The valve member 8 is provided with a pin 11 which projects through an opening in a wall 12 extending across the outlet piece. The outlet piece has an enlarged opening on each side of this wall, one of said enlarged openings being for the valve member 8. Located within the other enlarged opening is a valve piece 13 having an enlarged end 14 provided with a valve face 15 which engages a valve seat 16 on the outlet piece. The valve piece 13 is provided with an opening 17 (see Figs. 3 and 4) arranged so that it will be hollow for a portion of its length. The upper end of the valve piece is closed, and is preferably provided with a notch 18. The outlet piece 9 preferably has an enlarged upper end 9a and is adjustable with relation to the casing 1. 1n the construction shown this adjustmen is secured by having the outlet piece screwthreaded and working in a screw-threaded hole in the casing 1.

A removable cap 19 covers the upper end of 65 the outlet piece 9 and preferably has a Screwthreaded connection with the casing l. The cap 19 is provided with one or more openings 20 for the escape of air and water. These openings also prevent the valve from being clogged by dirt or water as the air will blow the dirt or water out of these openings.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

When the valve is in place and there is no steam in the radiator section the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, where the valve piece 13 closes and seals the air escape opening in the outlet piece 9. When steam is turned on, such steam forces air into the casing l and s0 this air passes through the outlet piece 9 and forces the valve piece 13 from its seat, as shown in Fig. 4. This air then passes out of the upper end of the outlet piece 9 through the openings 20. The opening 1'7 in the valve piece insures 85 the air properly striking the valve piece 13 in an effective manner so as to move it to let the air escape.

When the steam enters the casing 1 it expands the expansible iiuid in the receptacle 6 90 and this causes the lower end of said receptacle to bulge outwardly and lifts the receptacle to cause valve face 10 to engage the opposed valve seat and shut off the escape of the steam from the casing 1.

When the steam in the system or the radiator is shut off, there is a vacuum produced in the casing 1 and in the radiator or system and the pressure of the outside air on the end of the valve piece 13 forces it against the seat 16 so as '100 to close the opening and prevent the entrance of air into the casing and radiator or system.

It will thus be seen that this device holds the vacuum in the casing and the radiator or system when the steam is shut off so that when the .1115 steam is again turned on the system acts as a vacuum system. When the steam is again turned on it forces any air which may be in the system into the casing 1 and this air lifts the valve piece 15, and escapes.

It will be noted that the valve piece 13 is moved to its open and closed position by the diierence in pressure on the opposite ends thereof. When the pressure on the inner end exceeds that on the outer end the valve piece is moved to its open position to permit air to escape from the casing 1. When the pressure on the outer end of the valve piece .is greater than that on the inner end the valve piece is moved to its closed position so as to prevent air from entering the casing 1, thereby holding a vacuum on the radiator of the steam heating system.

I claim:

1. A valve comprising a casing, an cutiet piece connected with said casing and having a passageway extending therethrough, provided with two valve seats, ay Valve member projecting into said passageway and being provided with a face adapted to engage a seat on the outlet piece, a hollow valve piece closed at the upper end projecting into said outlet piece provided with a face which engages a second seat on said outlet piece, the passage in said outlet piece 1seing enlarged at its upper end, said valve piece having an enlarged upper end which is received into the upper enlarged portion oi the passageway in said outlet piece, said valve piece adapted to be moved to its open or closed positions by the difference in the pressure of the air on the opposite ends thereof.

2. A valve comprising a casing having an opening therein, an outlet piece mounted in said opening having one end projecting into the casing and the other end projecting on the exterior of said casing. a wail extending across said outlet piece having an opening therethrough, the outlet piece having enlarged openings on opposite sides oi the wall, a valve piece on one side of said wall and a valve member on the other side of the Wall, the valve piece and valve member being separate from each other, the valve member having a pin connected therewith Which projects into the opening in said wall, and a valve face which engages the lower portion of said wall, said outlet piece having a valve seat at a distance from said wall which is engaged by sai-:i valve piece, said valve piece being hollow and having an enlarged upper end at the point where it engages said latter valve seat.

FREDERICK H. TWEED. 

